9 Reasons to Switch to R-410A Refrigerant

1. R-22 Is Destructive

R-22 is the name of a common air conditioning refrigerant that is used to convert warm air into cool air. Unfortunately, R-22's cooling properties come with unwanted side-effects. The substance emits hydro-chlorofluorocarbons, commonly known as HCFCs, which have been found to destroy the ozone and contribute to global warming.

2. Maintain the Ozone, a Precious Resource

The ozone is the cloudlike layer in the stratosphere, which shields the Earth from the Sun's overpowering UV light. Without the ozone the Earth is left defenseless against harmful radiation. It would be like walking outside on a summer day in Death Valley without sunscreen, a hat, or any form of shade.

3. Human Health

Excess radiation increases human vulnerability to cancer. Additionally, living in a world with less ozone means the weather will be more extreme; the summers hotter and the winters colder. Continuing to destroy the ozone leads to a creep in temperature - this eventually could become so intense that literally every living thing would cease to survive.

4. Environmental Hazard for Plants

The global warming caused by the ozone layer depletion will cause plants to wither away. A slight change in calibration of temperature can disrupt an entire ecosystem, making it collapse. Consider the simplest food chain: if you remove one species from of the chain, it adversely affects everything that depends on it for food.

5. International Initiative

International consensus finds the scientific evidence against R-22 compelling. As part of the Montreal Protocol in 1992, the U.S. and the European Union have passed legislation to control the devastating environmental effects of HCFCs. Industrialized nations and the air conditioning industry have worked together to phase out R-22. It is being replaced with R-410A refrigerant in air conditioners.

6. R-410A is Now the Industry Standard

Since 2010, all new air conditioning systems manufactured for the U.S. must use R410-A refrigerants. The production and import of R-22 refrigerant is permitted only for the maintenance of existing systems. In 2020 manufacture will cease entirely and R-22 systems will have to depend entirely on recycled or reclaimed refrigerants for continued service.

7. More Efficient Cooling

R-410A improves upon R-22 at doing its job. With a higher volumetric cooling capacity and better thermal exchange properties,R-410A air conditioners operate more efficiently than R-22 systems. Because it runs at higher pressures, manufacturers can build smaller air conditioning systems. It uses a synthetic lubrication, which is an improvement on mineral oil used as a lubricant for machines with R-22. Synthetic lubrication and R-410A are more soluble than mineral oil and R-22.

8. R410-A is the Future of Refrigerants

With the reduction and eventual elimination of R-22 refrigerants, the cost to recharge existing systems is expected to increase dramatically over the next few years as supplies diminish. Though R410-A refrigerant was initially more costly, prices continue to fall as it takes its place as the industry standard.

9. Go Green

Air conditioners that use R-410A are by far the more eco-friendly choice. You can further decrease your carbon footprint by choosing models that have a highEnergy Efficiency Ratio (EER) or Energy Star® certification. If you're feeling especially heroic, try to use your air conditioner as little as possible and unplug portable air conditioners when they aren't in use.

Take the next step into a greener future by choosing an energy-efficient, R-410A powered portable air conditioner.Click here to see our wide selection of models available. Get free shopping on hundreds of in-stock items!